With a majority of the comics industry obsessed with reboots, retreads, and reader retention, Archie Comics has been a breath of fresh air for a lot of us here at Multiversity. And apparently we aren’t the only ones who’ve been immersing ourselves in all things Riverdale, as we received word today that Archie Comics had a record breaker of a year, thanks in no small part to the nationwide sellout of “Life With Archie” #16 and the introduction and subsequent wedding of Kevin Keller, the first gay character in Riverdale.
Check out the complete press release below.
Archie Comics Press Release
Archie Comics, the leading mass-market comic book publisher in the world and home to such notable pop culture creations as Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Josie & The Pussycats and Sabrina the Teenage Witch announced that, in the wake of LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16’s record-breaking sellout, the company has capped off one of the best years in its storied history.
“Archie is an industry leader for the first time in decades,” said Archie Comics Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “We’re not sitting back and waiting for cues from Marvel and DC. We’re leading the pack with compelling stories that resonate with readers, a digital plan that is expanding — not exclusive — and the best sales and profits the company has seen in years.”
For the full press release, please check behind the cut
The sellout of LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16 — the wedding of Kevin Keller, the first gay character introduced in Archie Comics — received international media attention and capped off a great year for the company, which also saw a number of historic and notable accomplishments:
· Archie was the first major comic book publisher to make its titles available to digital readers the same day as print. Archie became the first comic company to make Spanish translations of its titles available for digital purchase.
· Additionally, the company announced plans to launch the first-ever digital superhero universe with a newsstand Red Circle Comics app, featuring the return of Archie’s classic lineup of heroes in weekly installments some have likened to “Netflix for comics.” The app is set to launch in early May.
· The company announced the first of a series of media adaptations of its characters with the news of a new Sabrina the Teenage Witch animated series slated to hit next year.
· Archie Comics experienced unprecedented sales in the digital, bookstore, newsstand and direct comic book markets via an impressive lineup of inventive and exciting projects, including KEVIN KELLER, ARCHIE: THE MARRIED LIFE, ARCHIE MEETS KISS, SONIC: GENESIS, BETTY & VERONICA STORYBOOK and THE BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS, which sold out and went to a second printing.
· The company was nominated for two GLAAD Awards in response to the debut of Kevin Keller and his subsequent appearances. Archie also won an Eisner Award — the top comic book industry accolade — for a newspaper reprint collection created in tandem with IDW Publishing.
· Established its place as a progressive, welcoming and innovative publisher with socially conscious and relevant storylines, including the introduction and wedding of Kevin Keller, Cheryl Blossom’s struggle with breast cancer, Occupy Riverdale, Archie’s romance with Valerie from Josie & the Pussycats, the death of long-running character Ms. Grundy and a for-charity issue of ARCHIE, with all profits going to New York’s Ronald McDonald House.
“It’s been a banner year for Archie Comics,” reiterated Goldwater. “And we owe a huge thank you to our fans, supporters, partners and colleagues. But the best part is — we’re just getting warmed up. 2012 is going to be even bigger for Archie. Stay tuned.”
